The Voice of the DBA - WMVSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/shows/?show=sqlservercentralwmv
Daily Notes for IT ProsA daily editorial on topics of interest to DBAs, developers, and other technology professionals.enSteve JonesSteve Jonessjones@sqlservercentral.comhttp://psstatic.podshow.com/images/shows/16929/shows/small/sqlservercentralwmv.gif?r=1202356367The Voice of the DBA - WMVhttp://www.mevio.com/shows/?show=sqlservercentralwmv
Podcastcleansql, server, database, dba, developer, technologyFri, 27 Dec 2013 02:01:45 +0000http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssPodShow PDNsjones@sqlservercentral.comwebmaster@podshow.com2013 in ReviewSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335571/2013-in-review
Last year I took a few guesses about 2013. I was right about smartphones, and encryption has slowly become more important late in 2013. BYOD has become a hot topic that continues to be a problem, but I think most companies are resigned to the fact that they'll have to accept and co-exist with personal devices in the workplace.

As far as SQL Server goes, it seems more and more companies are looking to implement SSD storage, but I'm not sure it's the standard for new hardware. I see plenty of people still stuck with spinning disks as part of their SAN storage, or even in local disks. We didn't move to dedicated SAN storage for SQL Servers, at least not in any large wave. However there has been trends for some companies moving away from SANs and back to local storage, especially for the people that are thinking about flash storage, like the FusionIO cards.

]]>Steve Jones looks back at 2013, starting with his predictions on Jan 1 and looking at how data and SQL Server impacted our community.Steve Jones looks back at 2013, starting with his predictions on Jan 1 and looking at how data and SQL Server impacted our community.Mon, 30 Dec 2013 01:57:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335571/sqlservercentralwmv-335571-12-27-2013.wmvMemories of 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335567/memories-of-2013
It's Friday, the last one in 2013. Most of you are (hopefully) having slow, quiet days during the holiday season and are not too busy at work. I hope most of you had a great year in 2013, and with that in mind, I wanted to ask you a simple question:

]]>It's the last Friday of 2013 and Steve Jones asks you to look back at the year. What stands out in your mind that relates to SQL Server.It's the last Friday of 2013 and Steve Jones asks you to look back at the year. What stands out in your mind that relates to SQL Server.Thu, 26 Dec 2013 23:06:37 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335567/sqlservercentralwmv-335567-12-26-2013.wmvIt's not the platformSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335509/it-s-not-the-platform
I agree with Brent. Actually, I've felt this way for years when I've been asked the SQL Server v Oracle question, or even earlier in my career when I was asked about Windows v Unix. The choice doesn't matter that much an dit's not really the platform; it's the people.

Oracle is often seen as the top platform in our industry for handling relational data, but if you give a copy of Oracle 12C to many of the SQL Server staffs that read this newsletter, and it likely won't scale too well. At least not until they learn a bit about how the platform works. The same is true of SQL Server, which is often given to many under-trained and under-qualified people with the idea that they'll just make it work.

]]>Steve Jones doesn't think that it matters which platform you choose. It's more about the people you have.Steve Jones doesn't think that it matters which platform you choose. It's more about the people you have.Wed, 25 Dec 2013 22:30:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335509/sqlservercentralwmv-335509-12-20-2013.wmvMerry Christmas 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335511/merry-christmas-2013
Merry ChristmasMerry ChristmasTue, 24 Dec 2013 23:16:00 +0000 Podcastcleanbloopers, humorhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335511/sqlservercentralwmv-335511-12-20-2013.wmvInfographicsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335473/infographics
A few years ago I went to a seminar fromEdward Tufte that talked about information and how we can better present it to people to convey information and help make better decisions. I was fascinated by the talk, loved many of the examples, and then didn't get to do much with it. I found that it was hard to come up with ways to convey lots of information, and more importantly, it was time consuming to try and build incredibly dense visualizations.

I thought this graphic of Napoleon's army and this one of the Salyut 6 flight were interesting, but I wasn't sure how they'd translate to any of the business world's I'd worked in. However, I know I've seen some very helpful infographics and visualizations over the years, and I'm sure you have as well. This week, I'm wondering:

]]>Today Steve Jones has a poll that asks about the visualizations or infographics that you find to be most effective.Today Steve Jones has a poll that asks about the visualizations or infographics that you find to be most effective.Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:41:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, infographics, server, sql, technology, visualizationshttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335473/sqlservercentralwmv-335473-12-18-2013.wmvThe Challenge of Time OffSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335439/the-challenge-of-time-off
I've been working full time for most of my life. Since I was 16, I've rarely worked less than full time, and often worked substantially more. There are times I've had two or three jobs, though fortunately I think those days are behind me. I have a great job now, perhaps the best job in the world, and I get a generous vacation allowance. However I do struggle to take time off some years. That's my issue, and I'm working on trying to make sure I get away from work more. I appreciate the time off, but I also enjoy my job and the interactions I have with the community.

However not everyone is in the same situation. There are plenty of people out there that get limited vacation, little support for taking time off from employers. There are those consultants that are self-employed and struggle with taking time off when it means they aren't paid for that day. I've been in all of those situations, and here's my advice.

]]>It can be a challenge for some people to get away from work. Today Steve Jones gives you some of his advice.It can be a challenge for some people to get away from work. Today Steve Jones gives you some of his advice.Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:52:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335439/sqlservercentralwmv-335439-12-16-2013.wmvEncrypt EverythingSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335392/encrypt-everything
Security is a problem with so many of our applications and systems. There are numerous ways that we handle access and protection of data, often with access rights or encryption (or both) being applied to data in order to limit who can access the data. However neither of these systems is perfect for a variety of reasons and no matter how we configure our security, it seems there are always issues.

]]>Yahoo recently announced they are encrypting their traffic between data centers. Steve Jones thinks we should encrypt all traffic.Yahoo recently announced they are encrypting their traffic between data centers. Steve Jones thinks we should encrypt all traffic.Sun, 15 Dec 2013 22:56:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, Encryption, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335392/sqlservercentralwmv-335392-12-12-2013.wmvThe Geek Christmas PollSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335373/the-geek-christmas-poll
There are just a couple weeks until the Christmas holiday this year, and there are no shortage of new gadgets being released and updated by all sorts of companies. Many of us in technology get intrigued and interested by the new ways in which the various electronics and technologies are implemented and integrated. Whether these items have practical uses or not is often secondary to the joy we get from seeing technology being used in innovative ways.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, I'm wondering this week what things would excite you this year as gifts. There seem to be as many new products, enhanced products, and new ideas that are coming from established vendors as well as independent, crowded funded companies on sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. This Friday I'm asking:

]]>What do you want for Christmas? Cyber Santa is asking you this week.What do you want for Christmas? Cyber Santa is asking you this week.Thu, 12 Dec 2013 22:35:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, gadgets, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335373/sqlservercentralwmv-335373-12-11-2013.wmvPVPsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335369/pvps
I had it happen to me. We had an SSL certificate for a website that one of my employers ran. I actually purchased the certificate, and it secured our communications for a couple years until one day it didn't. The certificate expired and the website stopped accepting connections. If I had noticed, it might not have been a big deal. However when the owner of the company gets a call from one of his large customers, it's an much bigger issue.

If you worked at Microsoft last year when their security certificate expired, it was an even bigger deal. It's not that an affected customer that sends a note; it's affected, unaffected, and potential customers that hear about the issue from the media. It seems like tracking private virtual properties (PVPs) ought to be easy, but it's not. As pointed out in this piece, there are a number of issues at an organizational level, and while there are fixes, it takes some effort.

]]>Today Steve Jones talks about those PVPs, private virtual properties, that your company may own. There are challenges with maintaining these items…Today Steve Jones talks about those PVPs, private virtual properties, that your company may own. There are challenges with maintaining these items that show the technology field's immaturity.Wed, 11 Dec 2013 22:15:18 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335369/sqlservercentralwmv-335369-12-11-2013.wmvThe 2013 Tribal AwardsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335284/the-2013-tribal-awards
We're the #sqlfamily on Twitter, and often in person where we often get together for a #sqlrun in the morning and a bit of #sqlkaraoke at night. In some sense, we are a tribe within the larger technology community, focused on our common work with SQL Server. I thought the title for was fantastic, bringing together new authors to share their knowledge, and raise money for a charity.

At SQLServerCentral and Simple Talk, with the sponsorship of Red Gate Software, we decided to create some end of year awards in various categories, based on the community, not companies or products. We kick off our nominations today in a number of categories, including Advice that saved my bacon in 2013, Best Speaker, Best Outfit, and more. You can read more about the categories in today's announcement.

]]>The inaugural 2013 Tribal Awards kick off today and Steve Jones has a few thoughts.The inaugural 2013 Tribal Awards kick off today and Steve Jones has a few thoughts.Sun, 08 Dec 2013 23:21:00 +0000 PodcastcleanContests, databases, server, sql, SQLServerCentral, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335284/sqlservercentralwmv-335284-12-04-2013.wmvThe Future of AuditingSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335283/the-future-of-auditing
I was reading Captain's Share the other day and enjoying a quiet afternoon at home. It's a science fiction book about one man's journey in the future as a captain of a space freighter. It's an interesting series from Nathan Lowell that I've enjoyed and recommended to other science fiction fans. In the book, there's a scene where the main character is leaving his old ship as first mate and moving to a new ship as the captain. However he notes that the formal process is to deactivate his records on the old ship and ensuring they will be read only forever. The book notes they can't be deleted because they are a part of the ship's records, log entries, etc.

That seems to be a far cry from the way auditing takes place in current computer systems. Auditing of systems is under the control of the sysadmins (who are sometimes hackers) and can be altered, changed, etc. We, as software designers, haven't done a good job of ensuring the integrity and longevity of log records. In some sense, it seems to be a fundamental flaw in OS and software design to not have separated out the auditing and recording of actions from the administration and rights of the rest of the system.

]]>Auditing is a weak point in SQL Server according to Steve Jones. He looks at a few of its flaws.Auditing is a weak point in SQL Server according to Steve Jones. He looks at a few of its flaws.Wed, 04 Dec 2013 23:05:17 +0000 Podcastcleanauditing, databases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335283/sqlservercentralwmv-335283-12-04-2013.wmvCompetition or CooperationSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335271/competition-or-cooperation
I once worked in a company with a stack ranking system. I was a manager, and hated the idea of ranking the people reporting to me in this system. I had a good staff, managing all three major RDBMS platforms (Oracle, DB2, SQL Server), and they performed their jobs well. At review time, when I was told I had to have some 2s (on a scale of 1-5) in addition to 3s and 4s, I was distressed. Having worked with and managed hundreds of people in my career, none of my staff was below expectations (a "2"). However I had to rank at least one person at that level.

Microsoft has had this "stack ranking system" for years, and there has been plenty of speculation that it hasn't encouraged the really talented people to work together, but instead it pushed employees apart. Apparently they've decided to move away from this system according to numerous reports. I have heard that the most talented people tried to ensure they weren't working on the same team with other talented people, just to ensure they would continue to be highly ranked.

]]>Would you rather work with people, or compete with them? Steve Jones has comments on the Microsoft Stack Ranking system that seems to encourage the…Would you rather work with people, or compete with them? Steve Jones has comments on the Microsoft Stack Ranking system that seems to encourage the latter.Tue, 03 Dec 2013 22:19:12 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, microsoft, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335271/sqlservercentralwmv-335271-12-03-2013.wmvData PreservationSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335261/data-preservation
Maintaining data across time isn't something many of us think about. We work with data in the here and now, and in the database world, we typically only need to recover or restore data from a short window. Like most of you, I would usually plan on recovering data that's only a few days old. Being forced to restore a database from two weeks on any of my systems would make me cringe. It certainly would be embarrassing for me personally if it were my fault I couldn't restore to a point in time that was more recent than that.

In planning to recover our systems, we typically know the versions of software we have to recover from, and we can easily re-download copies of SQL Server or the patches we need. Most of us are dealing with SQL Server 2000 or later, which is good since those are the only versions still documented on MSDN. If you need SQL Server 7.0 or SQL Server v6.5 documentation, I hope you have copies. The same goes for the media. You can still download SQL Server v6.5, and SP5, but if you needed SP3, it isn't easily available. I ran into that situation about 10 years ago, and we had to make a special request through our TAP manager to get someone in Redmond to dig up a copy.

]]>Today Steve Jones talks about the challenges of preserving data across long periods of time, decades perhaps.Today Steve Jones talks about the challenges of preserving data across long periods of time, decades perhaps.Tue, 03 Dec 2013 03:24:37 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335261/sqlservercentralwmv-335261-12-03-2013.wmvIs Your Data Relational?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335130/is-your-data-relational
When should you use MongoDB? I've asked that question a few times, and I haven't gotten a good answer I understand. I've read about a few of the NoSQL, document databases, and I think they do have a place in the world. There are domains of problems that they solve better than relational databases. I'm sure that streaming databases, graph databases, columnar databases, and more have places where we they shine, but I still believe that many, perhaps most, problems are best solved by relational databases.

]]>An RDBMS is a good fit for many database problems, perhaps as Steve Jones thinks, the best fit for most. However NoSQL systems have a place, we're…An RDBMS is a good fit for many database problems, perhaps as Steve Jones thinks, the best fit for most. However NoSQL systems have a place, we're just not sure where.Sat, 30 Nov 2013 23:55:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabase, databases, design, MongoDB, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335130/sqlservercentralwmv-335130-11-22-2013.wmvHappy Thanksgiving 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335133/happy-thanksgiving-2013
Happy ThanksgivingHappy ThanksgivingWed, 27 Nov 2013 00:15:00 +0000 Podcastcleanbloopers, humorhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335133/sqlservercentralwmv-335133-11-23-2013.wmvCore T-SQLSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335111/core-t-sql
Often I find myself wondering about the minimum bar we expect people to clear to be competent in some field. Almost all fields are evolving these days as technology and new ideas are put into practice in medicine, art, construction, law, etc. It seems as though a Renaissance is taking place with the speed and variety at which new information is spreading, usually due to advances in technology.

In our field, working with SQL Server, we certainly see new ideas and enhancements taking place all the time. However there are also a number of core skills that evolve, but at a slower pace. For example, T-SQL grows with each new version of SQL Server, but the core language remains, and many people continue to use the knowledge they have had for years when writing code.

]]>Steve Jones thinks there is a list of core skills that any database developer or DBA needs. This week he asks you for a list of those things you…Steve Jones thinks there is a list of core skills that any database developer or DBA needs. This week he asks you for a list of those things you think should be included.Thu, 21 Nov 2013 23:57:45 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, T-SQL, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335111/sqlservercentralwmv-335111-11-22-2013.wmvWhat is SQL Server not good at?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335098/what-is-sql-server-not-good-at
I was reading a post that had this quote: " The MongoDB docs tell you what it’s good at, without emphasizing what it’s not good at. "

This isn't to pick on MongoDB, but the post did make me wonder what SQL Server isn't good at? Should our docs, and BOL specifically, have warnings about when there might be problems with code? In addition to the remarks, should there be warnings about various features, functions and code? I image that the CREATE FUNCTION page might have some warning about scalar UDF performance in many situations, and I'm sure many of you would think of warnings that might be added for other features.

]]>Today Steve Jones talks about some of the problems in SQL Server. Should we be documenting the situations in which features don't work well?Today Steve Jones talks about some of the problems in SQL Server. Should we be documenting the situations in which features don't work well?Thu, 21 Nov 2013 04:23:46 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335098/sqlservercentralwmv-335098-11-21-2013.wmvIt Starts with Version ControlSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/335012/it-starts-with-version-control
As a software developer, I learned about the value of version control over time. My first forays into development were as a child, where I made a single backup of my code on a separate floppy disk in the event I had an issue. This was my one-man-wolf-pack version control system, and it served me well, although it wasn't efficient. In a few of my early development positions, we zipped up all our code each night to a separate folder, giving us the pentagram-version-control system. This worked as long as we didn't need to go back over a week, but it still wasn't very efficient. I think that because we worked on fairly small projects and could hold most of the code in our minds, we muddled through issues.

Later I was introduced to a real version control system (VCS), Visual SourceSafe. Some of you cringe, but that system worked well. We could see the differences in code, and over time I learned to cut loose with my development, just trying new things, knowing that I could easily revert code backwards without much effort. Since then I've worked a bit with Subversion and Git, both of which seem to be very capable, mature systems. I still plan on getting some work done with Mercurial and TFS at some point, just to compare the features and functions.

]]>Steve Jones knows that good development practices require lots of skill and practice, but the basis for stability with your code is version control.…Steve Jones knows that good development practices require lots of skill and practice, but the basis for stability with your code is version control. He talks about some reasons why you might want to implement it.Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:05:00 +0000 Podcastcleancontrol, databases, development, server, software, sql, technology, versionhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/335012/sqlservercentralwmv-335012-11-14-2013.wmvTime for LearningSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334997/time-for-learning
Working in technology means that we are constantly challenged to learn new skills and improve our existing ability to get work done. When I started as a DBA, I could work within SQL Server, writing T-SQL, making backups, and managing security. As the product has evolved, I've needed to learn more about Active Directory to troubleshoot security, I've been called upon to cluster machines and implement replication. There are all sorts of areas in which I've found it important to develop some expertise.

However time is short. With family, with work, with commitments in the rest of my life, how do I find time to work on improving my career skills? Most of the time has been spent at work, slipping in learning time during a project, but I've also had to spend some time at night, practicing skills or reading about the intricacies of some feature.

]]>Today Steve Jones talks about the time required to increase your skills and debates about what time you need to invest each year to gain knowledge.Today Steve Jones talks about the time required to increase your skills and debates about what time you need to invest each year to gain knowledge.Wed, 13 Nov 2013 23:35:17 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334997/sqlservercentralwmv-334997-11-13-2013.wmvRuntime CodeSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334975/runtime-code
I was talking with someone recently who was building a dynamic process that generated its own code at runtime to process ETL files based on a set of rules. It was an impressive system, and reminded me of how BIML can dynamically produce code and build packages.

However then I started to wonder. If you produce code at runtime that then runs, how well is that code tested? I suspect most people would test the code generation process. Is this producing the code I expect, but how many would then write additional tests for the generated code as it executes? I suppose people might also just test the generated code, but if that's the case, are they really testing the generation process extensively?

]]>Do you test your code? What about code that is generated by applications and executed at runtime. Is that tested well? Steve Jones wonders.Do you test your code? What about code that is generated by applications and executed at runtime. Is that tested well? Steve Jones wonders.Tue, 12 Nov 2013 21:35:52 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, server, software, sql, technology, testinghttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334975/sqlservercentralwmv-334975-11-12-2013.wmvTest CoverageSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334948/test-coverage
I've never had to work full time in a QA group, but I have had to perform software testing of an application and it wasn't fun. Even as I worked through the various features, looking for edge cases, common mistakes, etc., I realized that running tests was something that really required more discipline and process than I was giving it at the time. Too often I 'd realize that my regressions weren't 100% duplicates of previous executions because I'd allowed too much "human effort" into my process.

These days most testing of software is automated. I know QA groups still exist, and they need to handle some of the manual checks that are very hard to automate. However more and more testing is being pushed back onto developers to handle, with frameworks like NUnit and JUnit. In the database world, we haven't done a great job of including testing into the code we write, but there's a great testing framework we can use.

]]>We don't test software well enough. Obviously we don't write high enough quality software, but testing should catch more issues. Steve Jones talks…We don't test software well enough. Obviously we don't write high enough quality software, but testing should catch more issues. Steve Jones talks about how you can perform better T-SQL testing.Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:29:59 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, server, software, sql, technology, testing, tsqlthttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334948/sqlservercentralwmv-334948-11-11-2013.wmvCyberwarSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334904/cyberwar
There are no shortage of books about cyberattacks and hackers. Some of these fictional stories even postulate that countries will build armies and engage in digital war with other countries. Some of this has come true, with the US and Israel attacking Iranian targets, suspected Chinese hackers targeting the US, and the announcement that Britain is building their own cyber army.

While there are certainly no shortage of attacks made on corporations every day, how long before countries make determined efforts to disrupt their enemies' economies with digital war? It's a scary thought, and given the poor security habits of so many developers, it's possible that many companies might find themselves struggling to conduct businesses while under attack. It might not be any different than if conventional weapons were being used near our facilities.

]]>Today Steve Jones talks about the prospect of cyberwar and the potential impacts on corporate systems. Perhaps we ought to be building better, more…Today Steve Jones talks about the prospect of cyberwar and the potential impacts on corporate systems. Perhaps we ought to be building better, more secure software.Sun, 10 Nov 2013 21:01:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, Injection, security, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334904/sqlservercentralwmv-334904-11-08-2013.wmvWhat Do You Want to Learn?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334873/what-do-you-want-to-learn
This is a busy time of year for me. Between September and October, I've attended 11 events in 7 cities and given 23 talks on 8 topics. It's been a hectic time and I'm looking forward to snow falling in the Colorado mountains and taking some time off to relax and enjoy life away from work.

It seems that every year I'm working on and delivering 3 or 4 new sessions on a variety of topics. I find the challenge of learning more about a technology or feature of SQL Server to be exciting, and it seems there's no shortage of new things I'd like to learn. As I watch different presentations, I find myself itching to work with the topic and learn how it might be useful for me. I often end up taking some area of SQL Server that interests me, and I think will interest other, and building a talk.

]]>This Friday Steve Jones wants to know what do you want to learn more about in SQL Server? It's the end of the year, with lots of speakers winding…This Friday Steve Jones wants to know what do you want to learn more about in SQL Server? It's the end of the year, with lots of speakers winding down their events, but looking forward to next year. Let us know now what you'd like to learn about in 2014.Thu, 07 Nov 2013 21:27:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334873/sqlservercentralwmv-334873-11-06-2013.wmvEffectivenessSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334872/effectiveness
I saw a great quote recently on an internal email at Red Gate. We had deployed a new feature, it seemed to be working, but one person questioned the architecture of the implementation. The person that was in charge of the project sent this back at the end of an explanation:

"It’s a little clunky, but we decided it was better to get it done than make it perfect."

]]>Today Steve Jones notes that your software should handle the load and work, but it needs to get done as well.Today Steve Jones notes that your software should handle the load and work, but it needs to get done as well.Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:12:22 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, Performance, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334872/sqlservercentralwmv-334872-11-06-2013.wmvProject HekatonSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334721/project-hekaton
If you haven't heard about Hekaton by now, you should think about reading up on it. There's some information from TechNet, a keynote video, and more. Despite the ranting from Oracle's Bob Evans in 2012 that this was "vaporware", it's coming in SQL Server 2014. The latest demos don't show 100x increase in query speed, but they 30x or so numbers I've seen are very impressive.

Hekaton is an in-memory database technology, actually called In-Memory OLTP in Books Online. This isn't a re-invention of the pintable concept from SQL Server 2000. Instead it's a very well though out architecture and rather interesting in the way it's implemented. The keynote video gives you a deep overview, though to use the tables, most of us don't need to know the internals of how they work.

]]>Today Steve Jones talks about the Hekaton features that are coming in SQL Server 2014.Today Steve Jones talks about the Hekaton features that are coming in SQL Server 2014.Tue, 05 Nov 2013 20:55:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, Hekaton, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334721/sqlservercentralwmv-334721-10-31-2013.wmvRecharge and RelaxSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334468/recharge-and-relax
My boss informed me a couple months ago that I had 30 days of vacation stored up and needed to take some. I mentioned this to my wife and she scolded me for not taking enough time off the last couple of years. Laughter ensued when I reminded her that she struggles to find even one day off every two week as she grows her horse training business. At least I take weekends off.

]]>Steve Jones has vacation planned for the remainder of the year and encourages you to make sure you are taking your own time off.Steve Jones has vacation planned for the remainder of the year and encourages you to make sure you are taking your own time off.Tue, 22 Oct 2013 21:33:45 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334468/sqlservercentralwmv-334468-10-22-2013.wmvMinor ProblemsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334443/minor-problems
When I speak to people about blogging to increase the visibility of their brand, one of the questions I often hear from them is "what do I write about?" My advice is to take the every day occurrences, the things that come up in the course of your job, and write about them. It doesn't matter if everyone else has written about backing up SQL Server databases, or writing a query to find duplicate rows; it matters if you have written about it. A potential employer often your blog as due diligence on your skills, including the way you communicate information to others through your writing.

However most of us also encounter these seemingly trivial, minor problems that plague our environments. We find creative solutions to the problems, solutions that others might not think of. They don't seem to be worth sharing. I hear so many SQL Server professionals belittle their work, thinking that anyone could build the same solution. That might be true, but for every problem you solve, there are probably others working with SQL Server that would benefit from hearing about your work.

]]>Steve Jones encourages you to write today on your blog. Don't worry about what anyone else writes; share your own stories and knowledge to grow your…Steve Jones encourages you to write today on your blog. Don't worry about what anyone else writes; share your own stories and knowledge to grow your brand.Mon, 21 Oct 2013 18:14:06 +0000 Podcastcleanblogging, career, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334443/sqlservercentralwmv-334443-10-21-2013.wmvDatabase Queries and ScalabilitySteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334356/database-queries-and-scalability
I ran across this post with a very provocative title: (thanks Brent Ozar Unlimited). It's an interesting read from a developer, talking about how so many website designs aren't built for scalable because they rely too heavily on a set of database queries place on every page. If you expect a database query to retrieve or store a user id, or other data on every page, then you are limited to the scalability of your database back end. There's no doubt there, but the author has ideas that can help you overcome these issues.

One of the problems is that systems read and write account information (or registrations) to the database directly. That's definitely a scale issue, and the author suggests generating the client information on the web server and storing it in a more robust and scalable backend. That makes sense, but it's with the caveat that " As long as you eventually write the data to the db later on, you’re good to go." Good point, but now you need a replication process of some sort (or messaging) that gets the data to your database. This ignores some of the synchronization issues across multiple servers as well, but it's not a bad idea.

]]>Does the database limit the scale of your application? Without a doubt, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use an RDBMS.Does the database limit the scale of your application? Without a doubt, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't use an RDBMS.Fri, 18 Oct 2013 21:03:16 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, Performance, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334356/sqlservercentralwmv-334356-10-18-2013.wmvGrow Your FamilySteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334334/grow-your-family
Yesterday I wrote a piece on the networking event that Andy Warren and I host on the Monday before the Summit conference each year. It's a great event, and I hope more of you can come next year. Our event is really a microcosm of something amazing in the SQL Server community. I haven't seen it in other technologies I've been a part of, and I'm proud that we, as a community, have done something amazing.

The hashtag on Twitter for many events is #sqlfamily. It seems as though the various community members, some speakers, some authors, some watchers, all treat this professional group as a family. We greet each other warmly, we hug, we help each other solve problems or find jobs. And we argue and disagree. We act like a family, a large group of people bonded together.

]]>This Friday Steve Jones asks you to network at your next event and meet more people in the amazing SQL Server community.This Friday Steve Jones asks you to network at your next event and meet more people in the amazing SQL Server community.Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:57:10 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, networking, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334334/sqlservercentralwmv-334334-10-17-2013.wmvOpen ArmsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334293/open-arms
This past Monday night was the annual networking dinner that Andy Warren and I put on before the PASS Summit. Actually "put on" is a bit of an overstatement. We pick a location, call them to ask if a large group can come in, and send out an invitation. People learn about it and if they can, they come and meet people and buy their own food or drinks.

Apparently people still like the idea as we had over 200 people fill up the Buffalo Wild Wings at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. I stood out front for 45 minutes or so, greeting people and making sure they knew were to go. I bet I shook more than 100 hands in that time, introducing myself to at least half of the people and greeting the others that I've known for years. I probably got 50 hugs as well during a long night. I didn't get a chance to eat dinner until 10pm.

]]>Steve Jones looks back at a networking event this week in Charlotte. Networking is valuable to your career and it can be a tremendous amount of fun…Steve Jones looks back at a networking event this week in Charlotte. Networking is valuable to your career and it can be a tremendous amount of fun as well.Wed, 16 Oct 2013 20:46:59 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, networking, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334293/sqlservercentralwmv-334293-10-16-2013.wmvFour Years LaterSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/334002/four-years-later
Yesterday I republished a piece on cloud computing, and I was struck by a sentence in the piece. I had written " Paul Nielsen says inside of 2 years we'll be leaning cloud first, local server second and in 5 hosting your own data will seem obsolete." I had written I was skeptical of that, but I wanted to revisit the topic. It's been 4.5 years since I wrote that, so it's close to five years.

Are we thinking cloud first for SQL Server applications? I can say that for the businesses I've considered or engaged in, we do think about cloud type services first. The cost and hassles of procuring hardware mean that for a small business, I'm not sure it's worth renting space in your own, or even someone else's, data center. It's much more cost effective and easier to rent a virtual machine or two from Azure, AWS, Rackspace or another vendor. For many non-database services, like email, it's probably better just to contract for a service, and not even concern yourself with machines or software.

]]>Are we thinking cloud first for database servers? Steve Jones reflects on predictions made four years ago and thinks about how the world has changed…Are we thinking cloud first for database servers? Steve Jones reflects on predictions made four years ago and thinks about how the world has changed for the cloud.Tue, 15 Oct 2013 20:50:00 +0000 PodcastcleanAzure, cloud, computing, databases, development, microsoft, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/334002/sqlservercentralwmv-334002-10-07-2013.wmvThe 2013 SQL in the City TourSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333992/the-2013-sql-in-the-city-tour
The2013 SQL in the Citytour kicks off today for me. I'm flying to LA this morning, early, in order to ensure the venue is ready and perform our last 3-4 keynote practice sessions in real time. We've been practicing remotely, but in order to ensure things run smoothly, we want some last minute practice at the podium, with all three of the speakers together. I think we have a fun, informative, and not-too-long keynote you'll enjoy.

Then it's off to the pool. I've been swimming more this year with a sore knee, and I've got pools lined up for the all the stops on our tour: Pasadena, Atlanta, and Charlotte. I've even searched out a few places in Charleston, where I'll be SQL Saturday #227 in between the Atlanta and Charlotte events. I'm not sure of my schedule, but if you want to put in some laps, send me a note on twitter and I'll let you know when and where I'm going.

]]>Steve Jones starts the 2013 SQL in the City tour today. At least for him. He's on an airplane in order to be ready for the first US event tomorrow.Steve Jones starts the 2013 SQL in the City tour today. At least for him. He's on an airplane in order to be ready for the first US event tomorrow.Mon, 07 Oct 2013 17:51:04 +0000 Podcastcleancity, Conferences, databases, Gate, Red, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333992/sqlservercentralwmv-333992-10-07-2013.wmvBeginner, Expert, or Both?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333936/beginner-expert-or-both
It seems that there's no shortage of interviewers complaining about the lack of qualified candidates for open positions. It seems to me that the best thing you could do to get a better job is work through all the articles and lots of forum posts from SQLServerCentral, complete all the exercises in your favorite SQL Server book, and improve your skills so that you shine in an interview. If most candidates are really that bad, it can't be that hard to make yourself stand out with a little work.

However it seems few people do that. In fact, it seems that quite often we find people that have 5 years of experience with SQL Server really have 2-4 months of experience repeated 15-30 times. What's more disconcerting is that they don't realize how much knowledge they lack.

]]>It can be easy to start learning about a topic, think you've mastered it, and become complacent. Steve Jones notes that an expert beginner might be…It can be easy to start learning about a topic, think you've mastered it, and become complacent. Steve Jones notes that an expert beginner might be what you are, but it's not necessarily what you want to be.Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:19:48 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333936/sqlservercentralwmv-333936-10-04-2013.wmvThe RatioSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333919/the-ratio
It seems we never have enough staff in many of our technology departments. I have worked in companies where I thought we had too many IT employees, but somehow it seemed my department was always short of resources.

However one thing that I've seen almost universally is a larger number of developers than DBAs in most companies. That makes sense as I think there usually is more code to write than instances to administer, and I've usually found companies have to hire a few developers before they see the need for a DBA of any sort, whether production or development focused. I've also found the relative levels of staffing have widely varied.

]]>How many developers does it take to overwhelm a DBA? It's an interesting question, and this week Steve Jones asks how many you actually support.How many developers does it take to overwhelm a DBA? It's an interesting question, and this week Steve Jones asks how many you actually support.Thu, 03 Oct 2013 23:10:04 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333919/sqlservercentralwmv-333919-10-03-2013.wmvIt HappensSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333565/it-happens
Your code is wrong.

Or it's bad, or it won't work as intended. I'm not sure that's the viewpoint I'd like to take when I first start working on a project, but that's what Nathan Marz told the attendees at the NoSQL2013 conference recently. He says that our code should be treated as something that might or might not work, and embrace the idea that the code can be wrong.

]]>It happens. Code breaks.It happens. Code breaks.Tue, 24 Sep 2013 22:30:55 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333565/sqlservercentralwmv-333565-09-24-2013.wmvThe Human Cost of Managing DataSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333529/the-human-cost-of-managing-data
If you've ever worked in a large environment, where the numbers of nodes number in the thousands, or tens of thousands, then you know many software packages don't scale to that size very well. I've seen quite a few pieces of software that were well written, and ran well with hundreds of items, but choked miserably when the count crept past a few thousand. Typically those are edge-case sized installations, and most applications aren't designed for, or tested at, those scales. I haven't registered 1,000 instances in SSMS, but I could guess that it would not necessarily run smoothly with that many instances being examined.

Software designed at scale tends to take the "install another central node" and manage multiple central nodes individually. That quickly becomes a pain point for the humans that administer the systems as they must learn and remember where individual systems are being managed. It's not much different for hardware as well. When a system exceeds the capacity of a single node, we often find that we are adding multiple modes and managing them individually. Many backup systems work this way, adding new units to handle the additional backup space requirements.

]]>There's a cost to managing data that isn't always considered: the human cost. Additional stress, work, and load can result in less than efficient…There's a cost to managing data that isn't always considered: the human cost. Additional stress, work, and load can result in less than efficient management, even when you contain hard costs.Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:52:17 +0000 PodcastcleanAdministration, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333529/sqlservercentralwmv-333529-09-23-2013.wmvCitizen ScientistsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333402/citizen-scientists
The tremendous growth of computing power, especially in the form of mobile devices, means that more and more people can analyze data themselves, or have applications do it locally, reducing the need for large central systems to perform all the calculations. Indeed some of the value from Hadoop and other cluster computing systems comes from using lots of small, relatively powerful systems to do more work than one single computer could.

However we can not only analyze, but also gather data. There is a rise in the citizen scientist, in which individuals can help scientists by gathering data and sharing it with others. This can reduce the costs of gathering data, but more importantly, gather much more, and varied, data than might otherwise be possible. There are a number of projects available if you're an amateur scientist that wants to join in.

]]>The increasing power and shrinking size of computing devices means that more and more people can gather and analyze data. Steve Jones talks about…The increasing power and shrinking size of computing devices means that more and more people can gather and analyze data. Steve Jones talks about some opportunities.Sun, 22 Sep 2013 21:08:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333402/sqlservercentralwmv-333402-09-18-2013.wmvCitizen ScientistsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333401/citizen-scientists
The tremendous growth of computing power, especially in the form of mobile devices, means that more and more people can analyze data themselves, or have applications do it locally, reducing the need for large central systems to perform all the calculations. Indeed some of the value from Hadoop and other cluster computing systems comes from using lots of small, relatively powerful systems to do more work than one single computer could.

However we can not only analyze, but also gather data. There is a rise in the citizen scientist, in which individuals can help scientists by gathering data and sharing it with others. This can reduce the costs of gathering data, but more importantly, gather much more, and varied, data than might otherwise be possible. There are a number of projects available if you're an amateur scientist that wants to join in.

]]>The increasing power and shrinking size of computing devices means that more and more people can gather and analyze data. Steve Jones talks about…The increasing power and shrinking size of computing devices means that more and more people can gather and analyze data. Steve Jones talks about some opportunities.Sun, 22 Sep 2013 21:01:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333401/sqlservercentralwmv-333401-09-18-2013.mp4Opportunities AboundSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333399/opportunities-abound
There are so many opportunities for many of you to learn more about SQL Server. It's amazing to think how many more choices we have today than I did early in my career. When I moved to Denver, we had a user group that met somewhat sporadically, an MSDN lunch hour every month, the PASS Summit, and training classes from various vendors like New Horizons.

That's changed today and when I look at my schedule, it's incredible to think how many of them I'm going to be a part of this fall. I've got a busy travel schedule the rest of the year, and I'll only touch a small portion of the events that you could use to increase your SQL Server knowledge.

]]>We have so many ways in which we can grow our SQL Server careers. Steve Jones shares a few today.We have so many ways in which we can grow our SQL Server careers. Steve Jones shares a few today.Wed, 18 Sep 2013 19:13:29 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, connections, databases, dev, Intersection, Saturday, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333399/sqlservercentralwmv-333399-09-18-2013.wmvJob Worries Over AutomationSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333352/job-worries-over-automation
There was a report recently where the NSA noted that they are reducing the number of system administrators by 90%. If the report is true, that would certainly worry many of the people in the technology industry. However I'm not sure that the quote given in the article means what it looks like at first.

Much of the technology reports that we see aren't completely true since many of the reporters aren't that familiar with the details of how computer technology works. In this case, however, we have a quote: “What we’re in the process of doing – not fast enough – is reducing our system administrators by about 90 percent,” It might be hard to interpret this remark in any way other than the NSA is looking to reduce the number of people, but if you read further, the piece notes that the NSA is concerned about contractors, not necessarily FTEs. I suspect that any reduction in contractors employed by other companies will be made up by increased internal headcount.

]]>Are you worried about your job in the future? Steve Jones thinks you shouldn't be.Are you worried about your job in the future? Steve Jones thinks you shouldn't be.Tue, 17 Sep 2013 20:24:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333352/sqlservercentralwmv-333352-09-16-2013.wmvSensors and DataSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333347/sensors-and-data
We hear constantly about the benefits, and potential pitfalls of cloud based applications. There are certainly reasons to move to the cloud, or stay away, depending on your particular situation and requirements. However one thing I hadn't thought was viable was software development in the cloud. Most of the companies I've seen that host applications in the cloud still do the development on desktops and laptops, with a build server somewhere on site. However Microsoft wants to show us that this isn't necessary.

There isa push inside Microsoft to perform more of their development in the cloud. Across the last year or two, various managers inside Microsoft have been moving development to the cloud, typically starting with testing and code analysis. Those are great fits for cloud services, since they are used at discrete periods, but may requite lots of resources. One of the interesting things in the piece was that the first objectives was to speed up the continuous integration process. At Red Gate (my employer), we've seen a lot of benefits from implementing continuous integration, both in our applications and databases, and we've done a lot of work to smooth out those processes.

]]>In the future we'll have a more programmable world, but it will be driven more by data than software.In the future we'll have a more programmable world, but it will be driven more by data than software.Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:40:14 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333347/sqlservercentralwmv-333347-09-16-2013.wmvIf we can do it, so can youSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333174/if-we-can-do-it-so-can
We hear constantly about the benefits, and potential pitfalls of cloud based applications. There are certainly reasons to move to the cloud, or stay away, depending on your particular situation and requirements. However one thing I hadn't thought was viable was software development in the cloud. Most of the companies I've seen that host applications in the cloud still do the development on desktops and laptops, with a build server somewhere on site. However Microsoft wants to show us that this isn't necessary.

There isa push inside Microsoft to perform more of their development in the cloud. Across the last year or two, various managers inside Microsoft have been moving development to the cloud, typically starting with testing and code analysis. Those are great fits for cloud services, since they are used at discrete periods, but may requite lots of resources. One of the interesting things in the piece was that the first objectives was to speed up the continuous integration process. At Red Gate (my employer), we've seen a lot of benefits from implementing continuous integration, both in our applications and databases, and we've done a lot of work to smooth out those processes.

]]>Microsoft is trying to prove that development works well in the cloud by moving their own internal development to the Azure cloud.Microsoft is trying to prove that development works well in the cloud by moving their own internal development to the Azure cloud.Sun, 15 Sep 2013 21:52:00 +0000 PodcastcleanAzure, cloud, computing, databases, development, microsoft, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333174/sqlservercentralwmv-333174-09-10-2013.wmvThe Future of Knowledge MeasurementSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333162/the-future-of-knowledge-measurement
This is part 3 of a 3 part series of thoughts on certification and Microsoft technologies.

We'll never be able to completely and accurately measure a person's skills in technology. At least not in any cost- and time-effective way. Ultimately we need to come up with some way to weed through candidates to ensure they have a minimum aptitude for technology and some level of skill in the areas that are important to us. We want a way, with some level of confidence, to say that a person who has x knows y.

In the Microsoft world we can be sure that our platforms and technologies will change at least every 2-3 years, with major or minor revisions to all parts of the product we use. We might see minor tool changes, but fundamental feature enhancements or vice versa. However even when there are major changes, the revisions to the effective way we accomplish tasks doesn't change much. It evolves, and I think that a core set of skills can be measured, and more importantly, scored.

]]>In part 3 of his thoughts on certifications, Steve Jones gives an idea for how we might move forward from here.In part 3 of his thoughts on certifications, Steve Jones gives an idea for how we might move forward from here.Tue, 10 Sep 2013 18:17:36 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, Certification, databases, microsoft, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333162/sqlservercentralwmv-333162-09-10-2013.wmvWhat does certification achieve?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333140/what-does-certification-achieve
The idea of certifying someone as having a skill is almost as old as the idea of teaching someone a skill. I'm sure as soon as a person had the idea of teaching someone for compensation, others wanted some level of assuredness that the person had learned the skill. That was probably the first time that a test was developed, graded, and scores passed out.

We all know that a certificate or a test score doesn't imply any level of competence at a skill. Heck, if I had to weld two pieces of metal together as a test that wouldn't imply that you could weld any two other pieces of the same metal together (size, scale, etc. matter). It wouldn't even imply that you'd do as good a job welding the 99th and 100th pieces together in a week as you'd done during the test. The same would hold true in almost any endeavor, but we still have tests, grades, certifications, diplomas, and awards in many different fields.

]]>Part 2 of a set of thoughts from Steve Jones on certification in technology areas.Part 2 of a set of thoughts from Steve Jones on certification in technology areas.Tue, 10 Sep 2013 00:07:35 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, Certification, databases, Microsoft., server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333140/sqlservercentralwmv-333140-09-10-2013.wmvNo More MCMSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333046/no-more-mcm
This is part 1 of a 3 part series of thoughts on certification and Microsoft technologies.

I've heard that Friday afternoon is the best time to fire someone. People are leaving early, the office is quiet, and you can let people go quickly and get yourself away. It also gives the remaining employees some time to grieve, and hopefully, come back to work Monday without some of the shock they initially experienced. At least, that's what they say. Personally I think there's no good day, and productivity always suffers somewhat whenever there's surprising, upsetting news.

Recently, just before the US Labor Day holiday, late on a Friday, I saw a number of announcements on Twitter that the MCM program had been discontinued. Since I was on holiday, I thought I'd missed something, but apparently not. It was late on a Friday that the an email was sent to all MCMs and MCAs notifying them of the change. It was a brief email, noted here, and didn't include some of the reasons of that were given as a comment in a Connect item filed to save the program (the comment was from Tim Sneath at 1:32pm). There's been a variety of coverage and blogs around the Internet as well.

]]>With the discontinuing of the MCM And MCA programs, Steve Jones has a few thoughts. This is the first of a three part series on certifications.With the discontinuing of the MCM And MCA programs, Steve Jones has a few thoughts. This is the first of a three part series on certifications.Sun, 08 Sep 2013 19:15:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, Certification, databases, MCM, Microsoft., server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333046/sqlservercentralwmv-333046-09-05-2013.wmvDeveloper PressureSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/333043/developer-pressure
I've been learning about continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) from a number of people at Red Gate Software. As a company, we've embraced the concepts, pushing most, if not all, of our software through this process. We are using our Development Manager software internally for more and more of our web projects. Some of our tools, SQL Prompt, include "experimental features" pushed out rapidly to users, with the options for them to turn these features on or off as users desire. We update these tools often, releasing dozens of times a year. There are no shortage of challenges in working at this pace, but we are addressing the issues as best we can.

One of the big issues that I see in a CD environment is there is a bigger burden placed on developers to ensure the code is of very high quality. In this type of environment, there may be less QA work being done manually, and more automated testing. There is a quicker turnaround when you find issues that developers need to correct. Customers see changes sooner, and more often, and will expect corrections or new features to appear just as quickly. All of this adds up to more pressure on individual developers.

]]>As we ask developers to deliver software quicker, are we helping improve the quality of software? Steve Jones asks the question today.As we ask developers to deliver software quicker, are we helping improve the quality of software? Steve Jones asks the question today.Thu, 05 Sep 2013 18:18:07 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/333043/sqlservercentralwmv-333043-09-05-2013.wmvGood and Bad Interview QuestionsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332996/good-and-bad-interview-questions
Why is a manhole cover round? How many cows are in Canada? How would you cure world hunger?

There's no shortage of strange interview questions you might be asked in the tech world. If you like these questions, and want to interview, or be interviewed in this way, grab a copy of How Would You Move Mount Fuji and start studying. These are the types of questions that Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and many other tech companies have been asking candidates for years. Since so many technology people read about the practices from these companies, I wouldn't be surprised if many of you had been asked these types of questions in other interviews.

]]>Are there good and bad interview questions? Are there some you prefer or hate? Steve Jones comments on some of the strange ones out there and how…Are there good and bad interview questions? Are there some you prefer or hate? Steve Jones comments on some of the strange ones out there and how hiring is changing.Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:33:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332996/sqlservercentralwmv-332996-09-03-2013.wmvSensor DataSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332871/sensor-data
Most of us don't deal with sensors in our jobs. Or do we? So many devices are in use these days, with a wide variety of inputs that many of us might not realize that applications might be capturing some of this data, which is more akin to sensor data than manually entered data. I would suspect that the meta data might vastly exceed the amount of data entered in text boxes in many of our databases in the future. It might be location, time, action, event, or some other data that we store, manage, and link to data that users choose to submit.

The Black Hat conference took place recently and one of the sessions talks about the proliferation of cheap sensors that could be used to potentially track individuals without their knowledge. That's an interesting use of hacking skills, cheap technology, visualizations, and of course, lots of data. While there are plenty of scary privacy implications here, especially for criminal activity, I could see other uses as well.

]]>The availability of cheap sensors brings with it lots of possibilities and concerns. However there is one certainty: more data.The availability of cheap sensors brings with it lots of possibilities and concerns. However there is one certainty: more data.Mon, 02 Sep 2013 23:15:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332871/sqlservercentralwmv-332871-08-27-2013.wmvLabor Day 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332870/labor-day-2013
Enjoy the bloopersEnjoy the bloopersTue, 27 Aug 2013 23:04:20 +0000 Podcastcleanbloopers, humorhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332870/sqlservercentralwmv-332870-08-27-2013.wmvStunnedSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332866/stunned
I'm stunned, and I'm not releasing many details here. Not because I condone this, but because the who did this isn't nearly as important as the message and the behavior. I didn't press for more details when I heard about it and I'm not interested in learning specifics.

]]>The comment from one person has Steve Jones stunned today. He discusses the value of diversity and what we can do in the community.The comment from one person has Steve Jones stunned today. He discusses the value of diversity and what we can do in the community.Tue, 27 Aug 2013 22:32:18 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332866/sqlservercentralwmv-332866-08-27-2013.wmvLost in the NoiseSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332821/lost-in-the-noise
I'm glad I have well water. Not that it protects me, but it provides some insulation in the event that the local water company's systems were hacked and unclean water released. That hacking could happen, and the person in this piece speculates it is happening after a water authority honeypot attracted hackers from all over the world. It's scary to think how the world may change when any individual, as well as any country, could attack our digital systems. It means security is more and more important all the time.

As I read the article, I looked for a positive in the experiment. Was there something to take away from this research? The thing I thought of was the way in which hacker traffic was drawn to this system. Not that hackers were not also investigating other systems, but if honeypots existed, perhaps in enough places, would the additional targets provide more security?

]]>Can a honeypot provide you with more security? It's an interesting idea from Steve Jones today that might help you detect, and respond, to security…Can a honeypot provide you with more security? It's an interesting idea from Steve Jones today that might help you detect, and respond, to security events.Mon, 26 Aug 2013 20:45:13 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332821/sqlservercentralwmv-332821-08-26-2013.wmvPhysical SecuritySteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332057/physical-security
Think your office is secure? You have guards during the day checking badges, you have key card systems to control and audit access and alarms set at night. You don't worry if you have various system names or passwords scribbled on scratch paper. After all, who would target your office?

You never know. With the large number of people working in technology, there are bound to be a few people with less than prefect morals. The turnover of employees in technology can be high, and it might not be as easy to recognize an outsider as you think. Even in companies that only have 50 or so employees, it's easy to assume the person you see in the company is new hire, contractor, or other individual that has reason to be there.

]]>The physical security of our systems might be a bigger problem in the future as more and more hackers are finding ways into secure areas.The physical security of our systems might be a bigger problem in the future as more and more hackers are finding ways into secure areas.Sun, 25 Aug 2013 18:05:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332057/sqlservercentralwmv-332057-08-22-2013.wmvCool ProjectsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332070/cool-projects
I had a conversation recently with a developer that was working on a rather neat problem. This had to do with a financial system and it involved some complex calculations and real time interactions with a variety of systems. It was important for their company, and a lot of pressure was on this developer to not only deliver this software quickly, but also to have it perform at a very high level. This particular person was using Red Gate's ANTS Performance Profiler to dig into their code, feeling pressure to make it as efficient as possible.

However this person was also enjoying themselves. It was a challenge, and it was a cool project.

]]>This week Steve Jones wants to know what type of really interesting projects you are working on. Is there something you really enjoy and look forward…This week Steve Jones wants to know what type of really interesting projects you are working on. Is there something you really enjoy and look forward to building?Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:05:24 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332070/sqlservercentralwmv-332070-08-22-2013.wmvThe Costs of DataSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332046/the-costs-of-data
Most of us know that there is a cost associated with the management and storage of data. After all, it's part of the reason many of us have jobs as data professionals. Our salary is a cost, though we also realize there are real costs in electricity, on-line storage, backup storage, and more that relate to the stewardship of data.

Many US government agencies are being asked to share more of their data publicly, but without additional funding. That could mean less research is funded as the cost of opening their databases rises. How this should be handled is open to debate, but Vint Cerf and others have noted that someone has to pay to manage data, and public/private partnerships are a potential solution. However, the fate and cost of public data isn't the core issue.

]]>Information is free, but data certainly has a cost. Especially as there are real costs to storing and managing large volumes of bits and bytes.Information is free, but data certainly has a cost. Especially as there are real costs to storing and managing large volumes of bits and bytes.Wed, 21 Aug 2013 22:09:23 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332046/sqlservercentralwmv-332046-08-21-2013.wmvAlways AbstractSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/332011/always-abstract
The way we build databases and design security is rarely done ideally. It doesn't matter what your Utopian design is for schemas and objects; most of us make compromise as we deal with the pressures and diverse requirements thrust upon us in the real world. That's unfortunate, but it's also reality. I often see advice to use some best practice, like using only stored procedures and revoking all access to tables. I rarely see this in place, though I sometimes think that an investment in developer education would quickly erase any productivity losses from implementing stored procedures and probably reduce security issues.

I don't know we'll get away from stored procedures, but I wonder if we can get away from tables. I've seen a lot of design refactoring lately that requires changing schemas. The use of views to hide base tables would allow developers to easily make changes changes. Implementing vertical or horizontal partitions (or federations), additing of new columns, and even enhancing your application with RBAC (row based access control) or encryption would be easy.

]]>When developing your code, should you use views? There are reasons why you might choose to do so, or not do so, however Steve Jones thinks you should…When developing your code, should you use views? There are reasons why you might choose to do so, or not do so, however Steve Jones thinks you should consider abstracting your systems.Tue, 20 Aug 2013 21:04:25 +0000 Podcastcleandatabase, databases, design, development, security, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/332011/sqlservercentralwmv-332011-08-20-2013.wmvOpinions and VotesSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331772/opinions-and-votes
When you work with a vendor, you may report bugs, issues, or strange behaviors in software. These area facts, and are valuable pieces of information that vendors do care about. When you exclaim that a particular bug or missing feature is critical, you're stating an opinion. The importance or priority you place on an item is not necessarily the same priority the vendor places on the item.

We see this every day in our work, as clients and customers send us issues with our applications and systems. We triage the items and may or may not fix them in the order the customer would like them fixed. Our management may set priorities that we don't agree with. It's a complex interaction that involves many factors, all of which are weighed differently by different people.

]]>When we look to improve software, we are often expressing our opinion on which items need to be handled first. It's helpful to keep in mind that it's…When we look to improve software, we are often expressing our opinion on which items need to be handled first. It's helpful to keep in mind that it's an opinion being expressed, and not a vote, no matter how much it is solicited by a company.Sun, 18 Aug 2013 19:52:00 +0000 Podcastcleanconnect, databases, microsoft, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331772/sqlservercentralwmv-331772-08-12-2013.wmvPatch ProblemsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331768/patch-problems
I ran across this articlea week or so ago, but hadn't had a chance to put anything out. There were three patches put out in July for various products that caused issues with other software, one of which was SQL Server. can cause issues with SQL Server 2012, though it looks like the patch was pulled. Be careful if you have administrators that tend to apply the monthly security patches.

Overall, despite the tone of the article, I'm not sure how bad this is in terms of patches. While the errors are problematic and annoying, I'm not sure these are critical issues. These aren't causing reboots or re-installations of Windows. I've certainly seen worse patches released, though not in quite some time. The most disturbing item in the piece was the fact that the Windows 8/RT servicing stack update cannot be uninstalled. That's a bit of an issue, and it concerns me as we move towards a more automated, bulk patch process.

]]>A few recent Patch problems have Steve Jones concerned about the directions we are going with software.A few recent Patch problems have Steve Jones concerned about the directions we are going with software.Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:15:34 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, patching, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331768/sqlservercentralwmv-331768-08-12-2013.wmvReview Your CodeSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331709/review-your-code
I hope that SQL Injection becomes a disease of the past at some point in the future, one that is eradicated from the world except for very rare, isolated cases. However that's not the state of the world now, and probably not what we'll see anytime soon. I don't often see large scale attacks, but I wasn't surprised when a piece from Denny Cherry appeared recently.

What was disconcerting was the attack he referenced, which was automated and self-spreading, but injecting code into hacked sites that more and more users would end up with code that joins their system to a botnet.

]]>Steve Jones notes that SQL Injection is still a problem, and while it might be for some time to come, we should not be adding to the issues. Learn…Steve Jones notes that SQL Injection is still a problem, and while it might be for some time to come, we should not be adding to the issues. Learn how to write secure code.Sun, 11 Aug 2013 21:51:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, Injection, security, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331709/sqlservercentralwmv-331709-08-08-2013.wmvWould You Choose SQL Server?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331706/would-you-choose-sql-server
I recently wrote a piece on the limitations of the Standard Edition (SE) of SQL Server and got an interesting comment from Brent Ozar. He asked me a question as a businessperson that I found intriguing and it's one I thought might be worth thinking about it a bit.

Imagine that you are a manager or director or a firm, or even the founder/owner of a small startup business. You are looking to build some application. Maybe you'll sell it, maybe it's a service you sell on the web or with a mobile application. You have people that are good .NET developers, and hopefully a DBA, and you need to choose a database to store data and allow you to run reports. The database is important to the application; no flat files or XML stand-ins. The question Brent asked me, and I'm asking you is:

]]>This Friday Steve Jones has a poll asking how you feel about SQL Server for your own projects, or even your company's projects. Is it a given you'd…This Friday Steve Jones has a poll asking how you feel about SQL Server for your own projects, or even your company's projects. Is it a given you'd use SQL Server?Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:11:44 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, licensing, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331706/sqlservercentralwmv-331706-08-08-2013.wmvBalloons and DataSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331685/balloons-and-data
We see a lot of questions at SQLServerCentral repeated over the years as workers new to the platform encounter some of the issues that many of us have dealt with repeatedly over the years. One of the more common questions that I see in the SQLServerCentral forums has to do with tempdb growth.

Many people coming to the SQL Server platform realize tempdb is a workspace, but they don't always understand how it works. Many times I see questions where people don't understand why tempdb will grow from it's default size. Even more surprising is that they don't understand why it doesn't shrink back to the default size. After all, it contains temporary information, and when it's not being used, the size should shrink, right?

]]>A common misconception for users is how tempdb, and data files in general work.A common misconception for users is how tempdb, and data files in general work.Wed, 07 Aug 2013 22:37:35 +0000 PodcastyesAdministration, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331685/sqlservercentralwmv-331685-08-07-2013.wmvThe Standard LimitationSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331653/the-standard-limitation
Is 64GB of RAM enough for a SQL Server instance? It was in the past for most servers that I've developed software on or administered. These days I know some people have 2TB of RAM in their big database servers, which makes 64GB seem paltry. After all, I've had 32GB in a laptop before. However I know most of the SQL Server databases out there, in absolute numbers, are fairly small. In the low GB in size. I'd think 64GB isn't too much for these.

The reason that number comes up is that it's the limitation for SQL Server's Standard Edition (SE), and apparently, it's my fault the number is set so low. Not just my fault, but all of you out there that keep buying SQL Server licenses. I'm not sure I agree with Brent's verbiage, but I do agree with his conclusion. As long as SQL Server sells, and it's selling well, why wouldn't Microsoft push people to buy Enterprise Edition and pay more to use larger servers?

]]>SQL Server Standard Edition only supports 64GB of RAM and it's our fault. Or is it, and is this a reasonable number? Steve Jones has a few thoughts…SQL Server Standard Edition only supports 64GB of RAM and it's our fault. Or is it, and is this a reasonable number? Steve Jones has a few thoughts today.Tue, 06 Aug 2013 21:41:25 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, licensing, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331653/sqlservercentralwmv-331653-08-06-2013.wmvWinningSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331564/winning
"From the beginning to the end, losers lose, winners win" - 50 Cent

It's not always true, and there are no guarantees, but it is clear that those who put effort into improving themselves, often find more opportunities and the chance to succeed. The definition of success may vary among all of us, but I would guess that succeeding for most of us has something to do with accomplishing more in some endeavor. Whether that's getting more work finished, or improving the quality of our craftsmanship, it's a movement forward. It's winning.

]]>Steve Jones has a few career thoughts to motivate you today.Steve Jones has a few career thoughts to motivate you today.Sun, 04 Aug 2013 23:28:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331564/sqlservercentralwmv-331564-08-02-2013.wmvThe School YearSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331542/the-school-year
It's August and for many people in the world that means that school will be starting sometime this month. My children have a little over two weeks left before they begin, with the mourning for the end of summer break already beginning. Some of us that work at a career for a living will also be starting school. People are pursuing advanced degrees, such as a PhD or MBA, while still managing a full time job, with their workload about to increase this fall as well. However most of us aren't in either of these situations, and we go to work each day, but come home and (hopefully) enjoy the rest of our lives with family, pursuing hobbies, or some other activity.

However many of us do have some leisure time that we could redirect to another endeavor. Working in technology can be a stressful, time consuming job at times, but it can also be a fairly easy job, physically. Many of us understand our environments and can often complete our jobs in a reasonable number of hours each week. It's also a job that often compensates us very well. However it's a field that demands regular skill improvement for success, security, and opportunity.

]]>This Friday Steve Jones looks forward to the rest of the year. It's almost time for school and do you have plans? Should you be making some plans?This Friday Steve Jones looks forward to the rest of the year. It's almost time for school and do you have plans? Should you be making some plans?Thu, 01 Aug 2013 23:27:08 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331542/sqlservercentralwmv-331542-08-01-2013.wmvThe Human TouchSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331500/the-human-touch
How often does human error cause issues? Recently we had a rocket crash in Russia,there have been numerous incidents of drone crashes as more and more unmanned aircraft take to the skies, and a few years ago we had an Air France disaster that might have been cause by humans making poor decisions or engaging the wrong controls. Those are incidents where the wrong button press has large consequences, either in physical damage or the loss of life.

Many of us make mistakes constantly as we work in the various tools and environments we need throughout our day. We click the wrong button in SSMS, we connect to the wrong server and run a script, or we fail to test a change. All of these are mistakes made by humans, and often are mistakes that can be prevented if we did a better job or sticking to routines and processes. That can be hard, but perhaps checklists can help here, along with some double checks by coworkers.

]]>Humans are often the weakest links in any computer process, but we do need human input. Steve Jones talks about a few issues, and how we should be…Humans are often the weakest links in any computer process, but we do need human input. Steve Jones talks about a few issues, and how we should be changing our workflow to reduce issues.Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:36:57 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331500/sqlservercentralwmv-331500-07-31-2013.wmvLess QA?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331273/less-qa
Throughout most of my career, people have complained that software is never tested enough, not tested well, and certainly not enough time is allocated in project plans. I'd also argue that all too often we don't have people building software with experience in how to perform extensive testing. Most developers only have a rudimentary knowledge of software testing and that part of their skill set doesn't receive constant training. However I've found plenty of QA people that were in the same situation. Some educate themselves and learn how to test better, but many go through the motions. They don't take pride in their role as a software tester.

There have been lots of advances in automated testing and TDD methodologies over the years, which means that developers have been taking more of the responsibility, and effort, for testing code. It's hard to know if this has resulted in higher quality code, lower quality, or a mix. Overall I think that the latter is likely. Code quality is all over the board, probably based more on the skill and talent of the individual developer than on any process.

]]>It seems that QA is being cut more and more as software development advances. Is that a good thing? Steve Jones has some thoughts.It seems that QA is being cut more and more as software development advances. Is that a good thing? Steve Jones has some thoughts.Tue, 30 Jul 2013 23:38:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331273/sqlservercentralwmv-331273-07-22-2013.wmvHiring HeterogenouslySteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331218/hiring-heterogenously
I wrote recently about tech interviews and hiring, and even on an interesting interviewing technique for senior people. However we need to hire more than just senior people. We need to hire junior people, and intermediate people. Those roles are important for both growing the experience of your staff, and not getting caught with a "" as a bottleneck or single point of failure. Not that's not Brent Ozar, though someone with his talent might be the single point of failure in many organizations.

Not everyone can be a superstar-expert-architect that decides how the system is built. Not all architects should spend time coding basic insert/update/delete code or adding clustered indexes to tables. We need a variety of talent levels that can get complete different types of tasks. There is tedious administrative work, supporting roles, necessary, though unexciting work like reviewing security, logs, audits, and more. While you can automate much of this busy work, there are still tasks that we must assign to people.

]]>Hiring a diverse group of people can make your team work better. Steve Jones has a few thoughts today.Hiring a diverse group of people can make your team work better. Steve Jones has a few thoughts today.Sun, 21 Jul 2013 22:26:00 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331218/sqlservercentralwmv-331218-07-18-2013.wmvDR FailoversSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331120/dr-failovers
Almost everyone struggles with setting up disaster recovery plans and resources. There are a few companies that take their DR seriously, but for most organizations, it's an afterthought. It's an insurance premium that can easily be avoided if there are not pressing problems and your past experience with disasters is minimal. After all, it's rare that any of our data centers shuts down because of an earthquake, hurricane, fire, or other similar large scale event.

However most of us try to have some type of disaster recovery in place. We may have cold or warm systems available. Our companies have funded an AlwaysOn Availability Group, or more likely, mirroring and/or log shipping for critical systems where data is moved to a remote location on a regular basis. We monitor these processes, and we try to keep them running, though I'm sure if they break, many people don't give the repair top priority in their daily work.

]]>We don't often predict for disasters, which is good since we rarely have extensive plans for dealing with them. If we do, do we actually test our…We don't often predict for disasters, which is good since we rarely have extensive plans for dealing with them. If we do, do we actually test our plans, or test the systems under full load?Thu, 18 Jul 2013 21:44:00 +0000 Podcastcleanavailability, databases, disaster, High, recovery, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331120/sqlservercentralwmv-331120-07-15-2013.wmvPassword NinjasSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331180/password-ninjas
For the time being, passwords are the way that we authenticate users and secure most of our systems. There might be a better system in the future, but for now everyone needs to manage a series of logins and passwords, even if you have authentication for many systems linked through an internal domain or external system, like OpenID.

I think password managers are almost required these days to manage passwords for most people. I recently ran across an article on ArsTechnica where five security experts were asked how they manage their complex passwords across a multitude of services. Four of these experts use password managers of some sort, though there is quite a variety of them. One actually remembers passwords, though he tries to use proximity tokens and one time passwords when possible.

]]>How do you keep track of passwords? A few experts out there share some of their techniques and Steve Jones adds his thoughts.How do you keep track of passwords? A few experts out there share some of their techniques and Steve Jones adds his thoughts.Wed, 17 Jul 2013 20:35:39 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, passwords, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331180/sqlservercentralwmv-331180-07-17-2013.wmvData PhilanthropySteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331143/data-philanthropy
The idea of philanthropy is giving back to the world, doing some good because of the success you have had or gifts you've received. Imagine that we thought not about giving our time or money, but our data instead.

I read this piece on data philanthropy that talks about the possibilities of improvement in the public service and applications we have from philanthropy. However the piece talks not about more resources, but more data, coming from the private sector. Data from cell phone companies, transportation companies, and more that can help us better understand how the world is functioning, how it interacts, and how that might affect the public goods and services.

]]>The idea of giving back to the world some of your success has been something many successful businesses have done forever. Steve Jones thinks they…The idea of giving back to the world some of your success has been something many successful businesses have done forever. Steve Jones thinks they should consider giving more than physical resources, but also give data.Tue, 16 Jul 2013 21:15:21 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, philanthropy, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331143/sqlservercentralwmv-331143-07-16-2013.wmvHack Resistant?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331079/hack-resistant
Security should be on the forefront of every data professionals' mind. It doesn't matter if you are developer, administrator, or other position, you ought to be considering the security implications of changes you make to the database. More and more data is being stored in databases, and often it's moved between databases as well. Whether that's to data warehouses, or development environments, we ought to be considering security to be more a part of our daily work and process rather than something limited to specific systems.

Vendors are trying to make systems more secure. I see the encryption capabilities grow with each version of SQL Server, and new features have been added, like TDE, to help technology professionals secure their data. Other vendors have introduced other safety mechanisms, and one caught my eye by claiming to be "hack resistant". It's the ZenithVault database says it is practically impossible for hackers to gain access to storage systems and steal confidential information. It supposedly does this by "data splitting", moving parts of data onto separate servers.

]]>Can we make a hack resistant database? A vendor claims this, but Steve Jones thinks it's not really a good claim to make and that we ought to make it…Can we make a hack resistant database? A vendor claims this, but Steve Jones thinks it's not really a good claim to make and that we ought to make it our job to secure databases.Sun, 14 Jul 2013 23:30:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331079/sqlservercentralwmv-331079-07-12-2013.wmvThe DesktopSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330989/the-desktop
Lots of IT professionals I know have moved to laptops for their daily work. This allows them to keep their work handy, no matter where they are. If they need to work from home, or on a trip, they have their tools with them. It's a good move for many people, but I wonder if it's what the majority of professionals want. As a side note, if you have a work laptop, with work data, you ought to be using whole disk encryption.

When I worked as a production DBA, it was handy to have a laptop to connect to work from home and check on things. However I felt this was a double edged sword, with the responsibility of carrying the laptop with me, and the expectations of management that I would be "more available" than if I didn't have a portable work machine.

]]>Steve Jones talks about laptops and desktop machines, and the potential issues that IT professionals have with one or the other.Steve Jones talks about laptops and desktop machines, and the potential issues that IT professionals have with one or the other.Sun, 14 Jul 2013 20:37:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, hardware, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330989/sqlservercentralwmv-330989-07-10-2013.wmvThe Vacation StruggleSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/331055/the-vacation-struggle
It's a little over halfway through the year and once again I'm struggling to get away from work and get through my vacation. It's not that my boss won't give me time off, which is a common complaints from many workers in the technology industry. Instead it's my fault. I've got a lot of ongoing work to get done, various commitments for events, preparation for travel, and most of all, I enjoy my job. I'll add that a few family events have prevented us from executing on vacation plans along the way as well.

Skipping vacation is not the best way to go through your career, and during the last month I've stopped to take stock of the situation and do something about it. I have a generous vacation allowance and there's no need to hoard it, saving for a once-a-year-two-week trip. I have some family coming into town soon, and I booked a few days off while they are here. I've also extended one of my trips, planning on a mini-vacation with my daughter. I plan on saving some days to ski near the end of the year, but I'll also be taking some long weekends and trying to recharge my interest in life, coming back to work refreshed.

]]>It can be hard to take all your time off each year and Steve Jones is in that situation right now. However he reminds us that life is more important…It can be hard to take all your time off each year and Steve Jones is in that situation right now. However he reminds us that life is more important than work.Fri, 12 Jul 2013 01:26:55 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/331055/sqlservercentralwmv-331055-07-12-2013.wmvHiring GuitaristsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330985/hiring-guitarists
Hiring good people is hard, though in some cases it might not matter as much as others. If I am hiring entry level developers or DBAs, I have a lot of candidates, I'm not investing a lot, and I shouldn't be too concerned if I have to let someone go and find a new employee. Given the fact that the people are often unproven in this case by definition (they're junior levels), I should be prepared as a manager to make more mistakes at this level.

However at the senior level, hiring needs to be done more carefully. The high costs, the limited number of candidates, the responsibilities I give senior people, along with the trust I need to bestow upon them means that I can't afford to make the same percentage of mistakes at the senior level. Most importantly, I don't want to hire expert beginners instead of experts at this level.

]]>Hiring senior people is hard, but Steve Jones stumbled upon an idea that compares hiring technology people to hiring a senior level technology expert.Hiring senior people is hard, but Steve Jones stumbled upon an idea that compares hiring technology people to hiring a senior level technology expert.Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:08:37 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330985/sqlservercentralwmv-330985-07-10-2013.wmvProgrammingSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330943/programming
Technology is here to stay, and those of us working in this business probably realize more than most people how dependent and integrated our lives are with technology. Even in countries that don't have the infrastructure or economies of first world nations are using more and more technology in their lives. Mobile technology seems to be at the forefront of much of what we do, but I'd argue that data is fast becoming more important than the software itself.

The one thing I'm becoming more convinced of is that this article is right: programming is a core skill. It doesn't matter if you're a developer building mobile apps, or a contractor scheduling workers, or a homemaker that wants to balance a budget. While there is software that might help, it seems many people are quick to open a spreadsheet, add some data, and start building formulas. These days the jokes about people not understanding how to program a timer on a DVR are fading quickly as more and more non technical people are using technology to make their lives easier, or perhaps, more complex, as they manipulate data and software.

]]>Programming is an important skill, perhaps extremely important for the future. Steve Jones thinks that's true.Programming is an important skill, perhaps extremely important for the future. Steve Jones thinks that's true.Tue, 09 Jul 2013 21:52:08 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330943/sqlservercentralwmv-330943-07-09-2013.wmvReporting on DataSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330895/reporting-on-data
I would think that most DBAs and SQL developers out there realize they need to understand some basic statistics and mathematics to write meaningful reports for their customers. Since many of us write our reports in T-SQL, if we correctly write the formula for one row, it expands to work the same way for all rows returned from the database. That should hold true in Excel, if you cut and paste the formulas across the all the rows or columns. However since each cell could have a different formula, you can't always be sure that the calculations for all rows are the same.

This was brought to light in a blog that looked at the problems with a public policy analysis based on an Excel worksheet. The audit-ability problem of validating results in Excel was one issue, and it comes about because you would have to manually verify the formulas in every cell to be sure they were correct. I'm not sure how many people want to do that, though I like the transparency of providing the formulas with the data. Someone will verify them.

]]>Reporting is an important skill for many data professionals. Steve Jones has a few things you might consider working on as a data professional.Reporting is an important skill for many data professionals. Steve Jones has a few things you might consider working on as a data professional.Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:16:40 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, Reporting, server, services, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330895/sqlservercentralwmv-330895-07-08-2013.wmvYour Frame of ReferenceSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330851/your-frame-of-reference
Is a database snapshot in SQL Server update-able? Most of us would say no, but I ran across a blog from the Microsoft SQLCAT team that proposes a method of issuing an insert, update, or delete statement in a database snapshot context. You can read the article for the details, and we could argue if this is really allowing a snapshot to be read/write, but that's not what I noticed as I read this.

This is a very creative way of approaching a problem. It changes the frame of reference slightly so that we rethink what the customer is trying to accomplish instead of what the technology limitations are. There might be more elegant, or more easily maintained solutions, but I found this to be creative, and perhaps useful, approach for solving a certain domain of problems.

]]>How you examine and approach a problem might have a large impact on how you solve it. Steve Jones notes that it's important that all of us look at…How you examine and approach a problem might have a large impact on how you solve it. Steve Jones notes that it's important that all of us look at the problem from the point of view of the customer, as well as our own view.Sat, 06 Jul 2013 01:33:53 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330851/sqlservercentralwmv-330851-07-06-2013.wmvA Better ConferenceSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330787/a-better-conference
I participate in a lot of events during the year. I had theSQL in the Cityevent from Red Gate recently, with more of those coming to the US later this year. In 2013 I've also been a part ofSQL Intersection, the online-only springIT Connectionsevent, variousSQL Saturdays, and attended theMVP Summitfrom Microsoft. In the past I've also spoken or attendedTechEd, thePASS Summit, and various one, two, and three day events that didn't necessarily focus on one specific technology. In that time, I haven't seen a lot of difference between the various conferences organization and flow. some little things have been tried, and some I liked, but overall most events consist of:

]]>Is there a better way to put together a conference or event? Today Steve Jones speculates on how events are run and how we might change things.Is there a better way to put together a conference or event? Today Steve Jones speculates on how events are run and how we might change things.Thu, 04 Jul 2013 21:40:00 +0000 Podcastcleancity, Conferences, databases, Gate, Red, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330787/sqlservercentralwmv-330787-07-03-2013.wmvIndependence Day 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330608/independence-day-2013
Happy Fourth of JulyHappy Fourth of JulyWed, 03 Jul 2013 23:57:00 +0000 Podcastcleanbloopers, humorhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330608/sqlservercentralwmv-330608-07-02-2013.wmvWho's Got Your Data?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330755/who-s-got-your-data
The headlines lately have been filled with the plight of Edward Snowden, along with his disclosures on how the US National Security Administration (NSA) has been gathering, cataloging, and examining all sorts of data about people in the world. It's not just terrorists, criminals, or anyone suspected of illicit activities, but also many ordinary people that may not feel they should have been subjected to this level of surveillance. Whether you think this was a proper way to disclose this information or not, there's a separate issue here.

We are producing a tremendous amount of data about ourselves all the time. There are so many ways in which companies can gather data points about us, often with logging activity that we might not find intrusive. Our houses produce logs of electrical activity along with the various types of services we might use (water, trash, etc.). We use cell phones, whose locations and usage are recorded, and we often use on line services for mail, research, entertainment, and more that all produce logs of our activities. Purchases on line are stored, and purchases off line might be stored if you use any type of loyalty card. I can imagine it not being long before any card purchase can be linked to the actual items themselves, regardless of whether you want this to occur.

]]>The state of data security might get worse in the future as more companies gather and share more data.The state of data security might get worse in the future as more companies gather and share more data.Tue, 02 Jul 2013 23:28:50 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330755/sqlservercentralwmv-330755-07-02-2013.wmvThe Intrusion of LifeSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330598/the-intrusion-of-life
I really try to be professional in my career. I try to meet my deadlines. I take pride in my work. I try to ensure that the commitments I've made, I keep. If that means I need to work late or on weekends, I do so. That doesn't mean that my life revolves around work, or that I allow myself to be abused by an employer, but if I'm behind, or I haven't given 100% of my effort during a project, I make an extra effort to catch up.

Recently as I was stressed and preparing for SQL in the City, life intruded into work in a very visible way. A family injury, resulting in some doctor visits and additional work around the house for me, severely cut into some of my work time. Fortunately my flexible schedule allowed me to work early in the mornings or at night to try and make up for the errands and appointments, but I still fell behind.

]]>Life intrudes on work at times, and we must learn to balance the limited time we have. However we also need to remember that we work to live, not…Life intrudes on work at times, and we must learn to balance the limited time we have. However we also need to remember that we work to live, not live to work.Mon, 01 Jul 2013 20:08:01 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330598/sqlservercentralwmv-330598-07-01-2013.wmvGiveSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330545/give
There's a lot more to life than just working to support yourself. Sometimes you need to do just that, but often we have more flexibility to enjoy and appreciate the world around us. We can take joy and pleasure in the experiences we have, the people we encounter, and the accomplishments we achieve. However there's another part of life that I think is important for everyone, and that's giving of yourself to help others.

I believe that almost everyone should volunteer their time or resources and give back to society. We should all work to make this a better world for everyone. Whether this is through a church, a non-profit, your local community or some other way, we are all better off for the efforts. I also believe this isn't something you do constantly throughout your life, though if please feel free to do so. Some of us will volunteer when we are young, some when we retire. The important thing is that when we are able to do so, we act.

]]>The world is bigger than you, and when you help others, you realize that. Making that change might also make you happier, and more successful, in…The world is bigger than you, and when you help others, you realize that. Making that change might also make you happier, and more successful, in your career.Fri, 28 Jun 2013 21:43:57 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330545/sqlservercentralwmv-330545-06-28-2013.wmvSQL in the City 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330499/sql-in-the-city-2013
Last week was the opening of a new SQL in the City season for Red Gate Software. Once again, for the third year in a row, we had our first event of the year in London. We had a new venue, and only one day this year, but it was sold out completely, with well over 400 people commuting to the middle of London on a Friday morning. I was lucky enough to attend, though my name being listed next to 4 of the talks probably ensure I had an admission ;). This was one of the busier events for me, slightly compounded by the fact that I arrived in London about 20 hours before the event and left the next morning.

It was quite a bit of fun see lots of familiar faces and meet a number of new ones. I had some interesting questions posed to me, and I think I was able to answer, or get someone else to answer all of them. Sometimes it's more important to be able to do the latter, since SQL Server has grown in breadth and depth, as well as sheer numbers of versions to the point where no one can keep everything straight. We encourage networking at SQL in the City, as do many other events, and you should take advantage of the time to meet a few new people, and renew old acquaintances as well. You never know when you'll need to ask someone a question, and a personal contact might get you an answer quicker.

]]>Steve Jones looks back at the 2013 tour kickoff for SQL in the City in London.Steve Jones looks back at the 2013 tour kickoff for SQL in the City in London.Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:52:41 +0000 Podcastcleancity, databases, Gate, Red, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330499/sqlservercentralwmv-330499-06-27-2013.wmvBetter Technical InterviewsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330466/better-technical-interviews
Is the tech interview dead? An interesting case made in the article, and some links ideas on how to better interview and hire technical developers. I think some of the ideas are specific to developers, and while they can work, they don't necessarily translate to other professions, like database people. Developers are tinkerers and while there are lots of projects they can tackle outside of work for fun, I don't see a lot of database project type work for database administration.

However I think the main problem with trying to recast technical interviews and ensure you have better success in hiring is that interviews aren't good models of the real world. In trying to evaluate a person's skills, and ensure the process is efficient enough to talk to 2, 3, or 10 people for each position, you have to sacrifice something. Usually you end up sacrificing the fidelity of the insight into how the person will perform.

]]>Technical interviews don't work great, but are they dead? Is there a better way? Steve Jones comments today.Technical interviews don't work great, but are they dead? Is there a better way? Steve Jones comments today.Thu, 27 Jun 2013 03:29:37 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330466/sqlservercentralwmv-330466-06-27-2013.wmvGreat Engineering CultureSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330390/great-engineering-culture
There are some nice quotes in this piece, and it's an interesting talk to watch as well. The talk is aimed at people starting companies that are based on technology and how to build the culture from the beginning. However I'd argue these same techniques can turn around culture as well. It takes time, and patience, but you can slowly make your technology department one that people want to work in. More importantly, you can make it much more effective and efficient.

Way too many managers don't communicate effectively. They want to use the military techniques of command and control, broadcasting a message and having everyone follow along. Instead it would be better if managers listened more to the opinions and ideas of their technologists when it comes to technology issues. The management piece comes in when you help your staff mitigate problems, and help them understand the issues and constraints of the business. Giving someone real, logical, valid reasons for pushing on deadlines or requirements often works well. Most technology people are smart and respond much better to discussions and debates based on reason rather than "power".

]]>Building great culture in a company is hard, and it takes work. Building great engineering culture can be more challenging, given the strong ideas…Building great culture in a company is hard, and it takes work. Building great engineering culture can be more challenging, given the strong ideas and opinions people have in technology. Steve Jones has a few thoughts today.Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:18:49 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330390/sqlservercentralwmv-330390-06-25-2013.wmvMore Data Security IssuesSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330333/more-data-security-issues
Insiders and human frailty are still a big problem in data security, according to a new study from Symmatec. Along with system issues these account for two thirds of data breaches. I suspect system issues means misconfiguration and poorly written code (from a security standpoint), though I can't be sure there aren't other factors that contribute. What's disconcerting is that employee behavior problems seem to be rising.

I think this is partly the result of attitudes and a lack of loyalty and respect from many companies towards their employees. It seems that job dissatisfaction is on the rise, and coupled with a lack of employment security, this makes it easy for some people to ignore regulations, not bother securing their systems, or even copy internal data themselves.

]]>The state of data security is getting better in the US, according to the 2013 survey from Symmatec. However we still have issues.The state of data security is getting better in the US, according to the 2013 survey from Symmatec. However we still have issues.Mon, 24 Jun 2013 17:16:34 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, security, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330333/sqlservercentralwmv-330333-06-24-2013.wmvSQL Server Should Work for UsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330151/sql-server-should-work-for-us
I ran across a post the other day from someone that was trying to find out why their maintenance plan failed. This person had received a failure notice from SQL Agent, which is good. We should all be aware of failed jobs from some sort of monitoring system. Like any good DBA, this person checked the job history, saw an error, couldn't figure it out and posted a question at SQLServerCentral, looking for help.

Experienced DBAs know that to debug this you need to look at the maintenance plan log, which has more details. The job history has a minimal amount of information. From there, it's usually easy to determine which part of the plan failed since they are fairly simple constructs. The really exceptional DBAs don't use maintenance plans and instead would rely on some sort of tool or well known script instead to handle their maintenance.

]]>SQL Server is a great platform, but there are problems in places. Steve Jones thinks that fixing some issues might be a good investment for Microsoft.SQL Server is a great platform, but there are problems in places. Steve Jones thinks that fixing some issues might be a good investment for Microsoft.Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:58:51 +0000 PodcastcleanAdministration, databases, microsoft, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330151/sqlservercentralwmv-330151-06-18-2013.wmvThe Best ProgrammersSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330113/the-best-programmers
Are you one of the best people at your job? If you are, then do you experience some of these feelings and look to move on?

Frustration

Boredom

Lack of a challenge

Or have you settled into a routine that you like and can live with? If it’s the latter, you might not really be one of the really talented people. Read this piece on How to Keep Your Best Programmers. I found it interesting that it looks at the motivations and reasons why very talented people might not like a job and move on. I think it's mostly correct, though it's not necessarily talent that determines whether people stay or go.

]]>How do keep the best programmers? Steve Jones has a few thoughts that might cause you to rethink how you manage your programming stars.How do keep the best programmers? Steve Jones has a few thoughts that might cause you to rethink how you manage your programming stars.Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:53:11 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330113/sqlservercentralwmv-330113-06-17-2013.wmvDo You Want a Meritocracy at Work?Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/330004/do-you-want-a-meritocracy-at-work
Professional sports tends to be a meritocracy in most cases. If your natural athletic talent lets you run faster, jump higher, or perform some other skill better than others, you tend to get more time to play, more money, more recognition, etc. It's not absolute, and at those high skill levels other factors come into play, but for the most part we find bars of skill that a person must exceed to make money at their sport.

In the technology business, I'm not sure that's true. However I want to know how you feel about the idea of skills being used to determine your career advancement.

]]>The best at their crafts are usually the most rewarded in sports, but not necessarily in other fields. This week Steve Jones asks if you would like…The best at their crafts are usually the most rewarded in sports, but not necessarily in other fields. This week Steve Jones asks if you would like it to be different?Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:05:35 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/330004/sqlservercentralwmv-330004-06-13-2013.wmvThe Watson ServiceSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329823/the-watson-service
The Watson project from IBM continues to grow and expand in new ways tha twe might never have thought of a few years ago. After winning Jeopardy, the compuer software moved into the medical fields and was sent to college last year. However now Watson is coming to the masses, or at least a portion of them. The Watson Engagement Advisor is being put to the test as a customer service worker. From banks to cell phone providers to insurance companies, the Watson service is poised to advise and interact with consumers by providing advice, troubleshooting and more.

Perhaps the age of the machines is really upon us. If the Watson service can do as good a job as humans, on average, then it becomes a matter of time before many companies decide it's more efficient to replace large numbers of their human staff with the service. As the text to speech engines improve and computer power grows, we might not be able to distinguish these machines from many of humans they replace.

]]>IBM's Watson project continues to grow and the latest implementation might be one that affects many of us in our daily lives.IBM's Watson project continues to grow and the latest implementation might be one that affects many of us in our daily lives.Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:35:01 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329823/sqlservercentralwmv-329823-06-08-2013.wmvThe Decision to FailSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329768/the-decision-to-fail
We have a number of automated technologies that we can us to seamlessly move from primary to secondary systems without human intervention. SQL Server incorporates a number of these, and many companies use them to ensure their applications are highly available. However things don't always go as planned and sometimes humans get involved.

Unless you are one of the companies with a very large budget and high risk of business issues when systems failover, you probably have some sort of high availability (HA) or disaster recovery (DR) process and technology in place that requires some human intervention. Log shipping, for example, usually requires that some human reconfigure the application to use secondary servers. Even with Availability Groups, clustering, or database mirroring, you may need to manually fail back to primary systems.

]]>When a disaster occurs, the response from your organization isn't always pre-determined. There are times when you might not want to failover to…When a disaster occurs, the response from your organization isn't always pre-determined. There are times when you might not want to failover to secondary systems, especially if you don't expect the disaster to last long. How do you decide when to fail oveThu, 06 Jun 2013 22:49:18 +0000 Podcastcleanavailability, databases, disaster, High, recovery, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329768/sqlservercentralwmv-329768-06-06-2013.wmvFear FearSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329675/fear-fear
I'm a conservative DBA. I get nervous when backups aren't running, code isn't in source control, and developers have access to production systems. I've had too many late night pages and weekend phone calls, not to mention many extra hours spent in the office from changes to systems that didn't go well. That latter item leads me to limit the number of changes I make to systems whenever I can, including avoiding Cumulative Updates.

When I read an editorial from Glenn Berry, I had to stop and think of whether or not I had a healthy respect for the problems that can occur from change, or if I was being overly conservative (or fearful). Glenn makes a good point that so many people do not upgrade or change their drivers, firmware, or other software. People don't patch their SQL Servers, even with Service Packs. I'm sure some of that is fear, but some of it is neglect as well.

]]>Do you let your fear drive you in how you work with technology? Steve Jones thinks you should be cautious, but not paralyzed.Do you let your fear drive you in how you work with technology? Steve Jones thinks you should be cautious, but not paralyzed.Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:31:52 +0000 PodcastcleanAdministration, databases, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329675/sqlservercentralwmv-329675-06-04-2013.wmvThe Joy of TechnologySteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329621/the-joy-of-technology
I ran across this piece onthe joy of being a programmer, which resonated with me. I started at a programmer, at about the same age, 10 or so. I'm a little older than the author, but I've spent most of my life in the technology business, primarily working with SQL Server, but I've built software as well. I'm still building a little software, mostly for fun. I recently set up aRaspberry Pi to stream Airplay musicfrom my idevices and created a ball shooting Lego Mindstorm robot. Granted the latter wasn't much programming, but I've backed a Kickstarter project that will allow me to write some more complex code for the Legos with my kids and I'm looking forward to receiving the kit.

Programming has been a fun hobby and career for me. Whether that's been working in a front end language like C++ or VB, writing T-SQL that produces reports, or even scripting administrative tasks in VB Script or Powershell, it's always a challenge. I find myself going through the same pattern of emotions over and over. Excitement as I start a project, confidence in an initial solution, frustration when things don't work, and a smile after the burst of creativity that finds a solution. Granted, I may iterate through these emotions a few times, perhaps even spending more time struggling than solving, but it's been an endeavor that I enjoy most of the time.

]]>Steve Jones enjoys his career in technology and hopes that you do as well.Steve Jones enjoys his career in technology and hopes that you do as well.Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:19:17 +0000 Podcastcleancareer, databases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329621/sqlservercentralwmv-329621-06-03-2013.wmvRelying on AlgorithmsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329605/relying-on-algorithms
We are increasingly living in a world that is affected by software (and the data it uses). I have to admit that I'm slightly worried about this as I look at the quality of software, the bugs, the lack of effective testing. It's not that companies don't perform a lot of testing; many do, but it seems that many developers, and even QA people, don't really know how to effectively test. This is especially true of testing for abnormal or unexpected situations. It there's one area of software development that seems woefully immature, it's testing.

However testing isn't the only problem. We might not like the way that software is designed, and used, to alter our world. As we become more dependent on software to accomplish tasks for us, we will run into new situations that the software may not have been designed to handle. This opinion piece on the ways in which software might alter our lives is both fascinating and scary. How do we want software to behave in unfamiliar situations? It's not an easy question to answer, and it's certainly not a question with a simple answer in many scenarios.

]]>Today Steve Jones looks at the way software affects the world and how we might be worried about how things might change in the future.Today Steve Jones looks at the way software affects the world and how we might be worried about how things might change in the future.Sun, 02 Jun 2013 19:20:49 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329605/sqlservercentralwmv-329605-06-02-2013.wmvThe BicentennialSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329550/the-bicentennial
Tomorrow isSQL Saturday #200 in Philadelphia. I'm traveling today to the City of Brotherly Love for the event, along with my partner at SQLServerCentral and SQL Saturday, Andy Warren. This is the bicentennial event, and even though it might not be the two hundredth event to actually occur, it represents an amazing success of the SQL Saturday franchise and I am thrilled to be a small part of the events that have helped train, teach, and network so many SQL Server professionals all around the world. We even had Bill Gates learned of the events recently at SQL Saturday #175 in Fargo.

When the first SQL Saturday took place in Orlando in 2007, Andy and I weren't sure how it would survive or grow. We wondered if we'd ever see 50 events, or even 12 in a year. Five and a half years later, these events have exploded, with over 80 taking place in the last year. Under the stewardship of Karla Landrum, more SQL Server professionals are getting free training every year than they ever might have dreamed of.

]]>Tomorrow is the bicentennial SQL Saturday event. SQL Saturday #200 takes place in Philadelphia, and Steve Jones has some thoughts as he travels to…Tomorrow is the bicentennial SQL Saturday event. SQL Saturday #200 takes place in Philadelphia, and Steve Jones has some thoughts as he travels to the City of Brotherly Love.Fri, 31 May 2013 03:13:15 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, Saturday, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329550/sqlservercentralwmv-329550-05-31-2013.wmvThe Speed of AzureSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329435/the-speed-of-azure
As database administrators we seem to be slow to embrace new technologies and paradigms. There was a lack of enthhusiasm from DBAs for SANs years ago, and virtual machines more recently, at a time when many other technology professioanls were embracing these ideas. Even today there is resistance from some people, and sometimes with good reason. SQL Servers are not like other servers and have much different hardware requirements. Too often the virtual machine and storage administrators do not appreciate that SQL Servers need different architectures.

Lately the cloud services push is seeing lots of resistance from DBAs. Various vendors and media hype the idea and potential savings, which then convince management that systems need to be moved or built in the cloud. There are some applications that fit better in the cloud, but not all of them. I certainly don't want sensitive information in the cloud, at least until we work out some of the legalities for who owns, controls, and responds to subpoena about data.

]]>There isn't a lot of acceptance of Azure from DBAs. Steve Jones talks about some of the advantages of Azure and thinks that we should be working to…There isn't a lot of acceptance of Azure from DBAs. Steve Jones talks about some of the advantages of Azure and thinks that we should be working to ensure that our internal systems respond at the same speed as people can get from Azure.Wed, 29 May 2013 23:06:00 +0000 PodcastcleanAzure, cloud, databases, microsoft, server, services, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329435/sqlservercentralwmv-329435-05-28-2013.wmvHelping MS Help UsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329427/helping-ms-help-us
I think SQL Server is a fantastic product. I've been using the platform over 20 years, across 8+ versions and 2 operating systems. It's provided me with a great career, and one I've enjoyed. However the software isn't perfect, with numerous bugs and holes. The Connect system was introduced years ago as a way for people to submit bugs and suggestions, vote on them, and provide feedback for Microsoft.

Does it work? I think Connect is broken, and while I sympathize with the volume of suggestions that Microsoft must deal with, I'd hope that they actually listen, consider, and act on something other than documentation bugs. While I sympathize with the volume of suggestions that Microsoft must deal with, I'd like to think that they actually listen, consider, and act on something other than documentation bugs. Those seem to be the only ones acted on lately.

]]>The Microsoft Connect system allows many of us to submit feedback, but is Microsoft doing anything with it? Join us and place your vote on some items…The Microsoft Connect system allows many of us to submit feedback, but is Microsoft doing anything with it? Join us and place your vote on some items and try to influence Microsoft.Tue, 28 May 2013 22:21:48 +0000 Podcastcleanconnect, databases, microsoft, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329427/sqlservercentralwmv-329427-05-28-2013.wmvdata willSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329342/data-will
There's a well known essay from Marc Andreeson that talks about howsoftware is eating the world. There's a lot of truth to this, in my opinion, and it becomes very important for more and more people to realize that software is going to become more and more of a part of their lives, all parts of their lives. Whether in business, in your personal life, in government or anywhere else, software is going to increasingly be used to interact with the world. This will bring about many opportunities for people in technology to help shape the way those interactions affect all of our lives.

However it's not just software that's important. The data that drives this software is arguably more important than even the software. This data drives the software algorithms to produce some result or action. Hacking the data to change values can even change the results from the software. Different software algorithms might interpret or react to data differently. If data isn't more important, it's equally important as the software that processes it.

]]>Data and software will impact our lives more and more in the future. Steve Jones talks about some of the potential ways in which both of these have…Data and software will impact our lives more and more in the future. Steve Jones talks about some of the potential ways in which both of these have changed the world.Mon, 27 May 2013 18:48:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, development, server, software, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329342/sqlservercentralwmv-329342-05-24-2013.wmvMemorial Day 2013Steve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329346/memorial-day-2013
Today is theMemorial Dayholiday in the US. I'm sure many of you have the day off, and I hope that you enjoy it, while also remembering those that have given their lives in military service.

For those of you outside of the US, I have some humorous (I hope) bloopers you can enjoy.

]]>The spring holiday message from Steve Jones.The spring holiday message from Steve Jones.Sun, 26 May 2013 19:50:00 +0000 Podcastcleanbloopers, humorhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329346/sqlservercentralwmv-329346-05-24-2013.wmvProvisioningSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329172/provisioning
At a talk recently, the presenter talked about the time lag for an on-premises server to be installed and configured to be on the order of months. Not that many, but it could easily be six months.

That seems crazy, but in many companies I've worked in, that wasn't an unusual time frame. From the time someone decided that a purchase was allowed, it could be days for the accounting department to approve the funds. A day or two to place an order, assuming that IT had already provided the specifications. Vendors respond quickly, but it could still take a week or two, possibly even more, for a server to arrive at our company.

]]>This week Steve Jones is asking about the timeframe for you to get a new SQL Server instance? Is it substantial? Do you really know? Answer this week.This week Steve Jones is asking about the timeframe for you to get a new SQL Server instance? Is it substantial? Do you really know? Answer this week.Thu, 23 May 2013 21:50:00 +0000 Podcastcleandatabases, hardware, server, sql, technologyhttp://m.podshow.com/media/16929/episodes/329172/sqlservercentralwmv-329172-05-21-2013.wmvTrusting SystemsSteve Joneshttp://www.mevio.com/episode/329219/trusting-systems
Computer technology has become more and more integrated into all sorts of businesses. These days when I look at the ways in which automation and technology is embedded in business, I'm amazed to think that I worked in businesses that didn't have any personal computer systems early in my life. Unfortunately this integration comes at the a price: dependence. We depend more and more on our systems working as expected for businesses to continue to operate.

Most businesses can tolerate some issues and failures in their systems for a short period of time. As much as I want to maintain 5 9s of uptime, I've never been in a business that really required that level of stability. I've had systems go down that management claimed were critical. They've been down for a couple days, and the companies didn't go out of business. We have a lot more tolerance than management would like to admit. If you work with a 24x7 environment like Amazon's online store or a banking application that is generating revenue every second, that might not be true, but for most of us, in most organizations, for most systems, we can tolerate some downtime.